Using the Mouse

A mouse is a handheld input device you roll across a flat surface (such as a desk or a mouse pad) to position the mouse pointer, the small symbol that indicates the pointer's relative position on the desktop. When you move the mouse, the mouse pointer on the screen moves in the same direction. The shape of the mouse pointer changes to indicate different activities. However, the pointer usually looks like an arrow pointer in the Finder. Once you move the mouse pointer (the arrow's tip) to a desired position on the screen, you use the mouse button to tell your computer what you want it to do. Macintosh computers typically come with a mouse that contains a single button. However, you can use a mouse with two buttons (left and right), trackball device, or writing tablet to perform the same function. For a two button mouse, the left button performs the same function as the single button.